Dispensing device.



H. B. COOLEY.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. 1915.

Patented May 23,1916.

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H. B. COOLEY.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY6. 1915.

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HENRY B.' C'OOIIEY, OF KENSINGTON, CONNECTICUT,

nssrenon TO THE amnnrcen PAPER GOODS COMPANY, OF KENSINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,061.

' To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I,'HENRY B. COOLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kensington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a specification. p

v v This invention relates to what I shall for convenience'term a dispensing device.

The invention comprises a number of highly-advantageous features, one of which resides in an article of manufacture of novel character. This article comprises a series of drinking-cups strung together, the cups thus united being susceptible of being handled as a unit.

In the drawings accompanying and form ing part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which will be set forth fully in the'following description. I

y do not restrictmyself to this disclosure; I

may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope'of the invention defined by the claims following said description. As a matter of fact the invention is primary in character.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine equipped with a dis ensing device involving the invention. Fig. is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a similar View of the lower portion thereof. Fig. 5 is a detailview showing the upper portion of a support. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion. of the stack of cups with one of the cups separated from the stack. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a part of the cord, illustrative of one type of seal. Fig. 8 is an elevation, and Fig.

9 a longitudinal section of a different form of casing for the dispensing device.

Like characters. refer to like parts throughout the several views which are on or cord,-as it is'familiarly known, answers satlsfactorily in this connection, it is not essentialthat such specific material be employed nor is itimperative that the cord or string be flexible, although this is quite deslrable. As may be inferred, therefore, when I use-the designation string or cord, I do so in a broad sense and do not intend to restrict myself to the use of a substance which is textile or flexible, although as I have observed, such particular article answers satisfactorily as a supporting element owing to its cheapness and ease of applicatlon. These cups2 can be arranged in any desired relation; for compactness they are interfitted, and while there is a direct contact between them, this may not in all cases be necessary, but they can be brought in closer compass by disposing them in a stack in which case there is a frictional fit between them as shown for example in Figs. 1 and 6. The string or cord by which the cups are connected together is designated by 4 and as shown'it is endless. It is not always necessary that the string or cord be endless, although when of such character an advantage follows such condition, as will hereina'fter more particularly appear. Initially the cups are strung together. For example as one illustration, the cups can be arranged Patented May 23, 1916.

equivalent. 4 threaded through the brim or rim portions 3 of the stacked cups, the ends of the cord being brought together and knotted or otherwise connected so as to present an endless band, the length of the endless cord or band exceeding slightly the length of the stack of cups 2. The knotted portion of the-cord may be provided with a seal 41 to prevent surreptitious taking off or unstringing of the cups. The threaded or otherwise connected together cups may be mounted in any desirable manner, although I prefer to support the article thus made by the loop or bight at the upper end of the endless cord or string 4. To thus carry the cups the sup- .port 5 may be provided. The support as thing. As represented the ring 10 is integral with the lug 8, the support or strip 5 fitting against the inner surface of this ring. Disposed concentrically with the ring 10 is the band 11 provided at its bottom with an inturned flange 12 resting on and suitably attached to the ring 10, the'external diameter of the ring and band being practically the same. The internal diameter of the band, however, is greater than the internal diameter of the ring for a reason that will hereinafter appear. As illustrated the support 5 has a notch or slot 13 in its upper edge and in which the loop at the upper end of the endless cord or string 1. may be placed, so that the cord with the connected cups 2 will be suspended by the support 5. Connected with the projection 14: near the top of the backplate 9 is the split ring 15 concentric with the ring 12 and'band 11, the support 5 extending upward beyond this ring but being spaced from the inner surface thereof.

The casing for inclosing the cups 2 may be of any suitable kind, that denoted by 16 answering satisfactorily in this connection.

This casing 16 is of glass, being in the form of a tube open at its bottom and closed at its top as somewhat familiar in this art. Said casing receives within it the stack of cups,

resting at its lower edge on the flange 12 and being hugged by the split ring 15. It will be noted that the casing 16 is free of the stack of cups 2 and also free of the support 5, so that the casing in the present instance sustains in no manner the cups. This is naturally advantageous but may not in all cases be necessary as there may be instances where the cups will be suspended by or from the casing.

It will be assumed that a stack of nestedtogether cups has been suspended through the agency of the endless band or cord 4 from the support and that the casing 16 is in position. It will be noted that the lowermost cup 2 partially projects from the lower open end of the casing, projecting in fact through the lower ring 12, so that the extended portion of said lowermost cup is in position to be reached by a prospective user. When a user desires a cup, he will grasp the lowermost one and will pull it downward, separating the cup from the one immediately next above it, the cord or string 4 tearing through the cup andforming a notch or slot 17 in said cup thus removed. When the lowermost cup is thus separated from the remainder, the stack of cups will settle or gravitate, so that what was the second cup will now become the first cup or will occupy the position originally occupied by what has been considered the first, lowermost or leading cup. When the user obtains his cup or when it has been separated from the holding or coupling cord, the cup has on it a mark, namely the slot 17, which is a positive indication that the cup has been dispensed and if a second user sees a cup thus passed through the machine, and if he elects v can refuse it. The string, therefore, presents one of several convenient and highly advantageous ways of positively marklng a cup when or approximately when vended, and the slot is, as may be gathered, one of many ways in which this marking or indication can be obtained. From this it will be clear that as illustrated each cup when vended is mutilated.

The foregoing description applies particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a construction wherein the dust-excluding casing is in the form of a carton or box 20. As will be inferred the casing in which the stack of cups is inclosed may vary decidedly. The carton or box incloses the cups 21 threaded together by the cord 22 which slides through a suitable device as the eye or ring 23. This carton or box has the upper cover or cap 24 and the lower cover or cap 25. The upper cover has as shown arr'eyelet 26. Connected with the eye or ring 23 is a second eye or ring 27, the two being suitably linked to ether. The eye or ring 23 is normally insi e the carton or box 20, while the eye or ring 27 is outside the same. Both covers 24: and 25 as usual in cartons are frlctionally held in place. The

carton or box with the two covers in place and inclosing the stack of threadedto ether nested cups is shipped in such con ,ition.

When it is desired to dispense the cups the upper ring 27 isengaged over a hook, nail or the like, after which the lower cover 25 is removed, thus permitting the stack to slightly drop until the leading or lowermost cup projects a short distance from the lower or uncovered end of the carton or box 20. The cups are now dispensed exactly as before. The two linked rings 23 and 27 prevent the cord 22 from being pulled through the eyelet or perforation 26. The carton may be of any suitable shape or material, andthe' construction will vary in accordance with the use to-which it is to be put. This carton presents a shipping case for the cups, and when they are dispensed constitutes an effective dust protector therefor. As shown the carton is cylindrical, and it may be made of pasteboard or other suitable stock.

It is desirable that I should make one point clear. I have mentioned the fact that there is a gravitation of the stack. In the present case the stack does not slip along the cord after a cup has been removed, but the stack and the cord move together, the forwardor inner run of the cord moving downward and the rear run moving upward,

the cord during such action sliding along 2. An article of manufacture comprising a stack of nested drinking cups, and an endless supporting element therefor, extending through the brim portions of the cups longitudinally of the stack.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a stack of nested drinking cups, and a supporting element for the stack threaded through the cups, the cups frictionally engaging the supporting element.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a series of nestedidrinking cups, and an endless band threaded through the brim portions of the cups longitudinally of the stack, the cups frictionally engaging the band to cause the movement of the band with the cups.

5. An article of manufacture comprising a stack of nested drinking cups, and an endless flexible band threaded through the brim portions of the cups for holding the latter in stacked relation, the band being extended above the upper end of the stack and the cups being connected with the band to move the band therewith as the stack of cups gravitates.

6. An article of manufacture comprising a stack of nested drinking cups and an endless band for holding the cups in stacked relation, the band being extended above the upper end of the stack whereby its upper loop portion may be sustained by a suitable support to permit the stack to hang from the support and the cups and band being movable together as the stack descends on the Withdrawal of the lowermost cup thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. COOLEY. Witnesses:

L. L. MARKEL, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

